Life-saving apparatus for privy-vaults



(No Model.)

J. FLEGK. LIFE SAVING APPARATUS FOR PRIVY VAULTS. No. 270,295.

Patented Jan, 9, 1883.

W1 TNESSES A T all whom it may concern UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN FLECK, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

LIFE-SAVING APPARATUS FOR PRlVY-VAULTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 270,295, dated January 9, 1883.

v Application filed August 10, 1882. (No model.)

Be it known that I, JOHN FLEOK, a. citizen of the United States, residing at Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Life-Saving Apparatus for Privy- Vaults; and I do declare the following to be a been applied. Figs. 2 and 3 represent longitudinal vertical sections of the privyvault, partly broken away; and Figs. 4 and 5 repreent similar views showing my invention applied in a modified form. Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are detail sectional views.

My improvement relates to privyvaults; and the object of the same is to provide a means of escape from the vaults should a person by accident fall therein.

In various sections of the United'States deep vaults are commonly used, generally constructed of masonry, and, as is often the case, they are butimperfectly covered or otherwise protected at the top to guard against persons falling therein.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents the vault, whichis generally circular in crosssection.

To the sides of the vault A, I attach a ladder, B, by means of staples or supporting devices'O, securely driven or otherwise embedded in the walls of the vault. Where the vault is as seen in Fig. 2. In Figs. 2 and 3 the ladder is composed of two side bars, I) b, and, rungs b. In cylindrical vaults the side bars, b b, may be arranged to lie contiguous to the wall, and so that a suflicient space may be left behind the rungs b to enable a person to ascend.

In Figs. 4 and 5 a modification of the escapeladder is shown. It consists of a single vertical bar, B, pierced at intervals for the reception of the rungsb, which project equally from the sides of the bar B. The bar B is provided with an angled projection, c, ateitherend, which rests against the sides of the vault and serves to keep the bar away the proper distance.

The staple, of the form shown by Figs. 5and 8, may be employed as a substitutefor the angled end of bar B or in conjunction therewith.

Thetop of the vault is provided with the usual frame-work, D, for the privy-house or closet.

A transverse supporting bar, preferably of wood, E, is provided for the frame-work, and is supplemented by an iron girder, F, let into a recess in the lower side of bar E, and fastened thereto by transverse bolts 6 6.

Having described my invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

The bar B, having rungs b, and provided with angular projections c at each end to keep the bar the required distance from t he sides of vault, and staples or fasteni'ngs for securing the escape to the side of the vault, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. JOHN FIJECK.

WVitnesses: v

TRAVERS DANIEL, WM. RINECKE. 

